15 years and now nothing.

I've been a contractor on Upwork as a copy/line editor for 15 years. I have used the same proposal - edited for the specifics of the job, of course - and the same profile - also continuously updated, all of this time. I've done quite well and I'm top rated. 112 jobs, 95% completion, top-rated.

I don't mind the 15% fee if I do find work.

2 years ago things dropped off. Just gone. I've barely been able to get my proposals looked at, let alone have a discussion with the clients.

It's ridiculous that we now have to buy connects to apply to jobs and are encouraged to add even more connects to be "boosted." Jobs are getting 50 or more proposals... That's a lot of cash to Upwork.

I wouldn't mind paying for the connects if I got something back when they aren't read. I've sent dozens off in the past two months and had maybe 5 viewed.

On top of this, the clients are bottom-feeders. I'm not going to work for less than $10 an hour. Clients are asking for "professional, college-degreed, US based, English as a first language editors" to work for .003 per word. And they seem to be finding them.